Electromagnetic relay



March 31, 1953 B. w. BRION 2,633,488

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Filed April 1e, 194s 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 GttornegMarch 31, 1953 B. w. BRION 2,633,488

ELEc'lRon/IAGNETIcl RELAY Filed April le, 1948 A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2Gttorneg Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Application April 16, 1948, Serial No. 21,481

9 Claims.

My invention relates to electromagnetic relays and more particularly topolarized relays of the direct current type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved polarized relaywhich is extremely sensitive in operation yet rugged in construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a relay design which issimple in construction and the parts of which may be readily fabricatedby stamping operation.

It is further an object of this invention to provide an easilyadjustable relay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a polarized relay inwhich a minimum of adjustment and maintenance is required.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a relay which iscompact and economical to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relay with animproved contact structure in which maximum life and good electricalcontact is insured.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a polarized relayin which the polarizing magnets are readily interchangeable.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a study of thefollowing specication and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the relay;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the relay with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a right end elevation view of the relay as shown in Figure1;

Figure 4 is a left end elevation View of the relay as shown in Figure 1.

The electromagnetic or polarized relay disclosed in Figures l through 4is mounted on a base member I5 composed of an insulating material,preferably Bakelite or other similar plastic material. Base member IG isa molded structure having a substantially square lower or base surfaceIl, two upstanding portions I2 and a contact supporting portion I3attached to or formed integral with one of the upstanding portions !2. Acavity I4 or recess is formed in base member Ii! between the upstandingportions I2 in which is positioned the magnetic core structure I5 of therelay. The contact mounting portion I3 abutting one of the upstandingportions I2, as seen in Figure 2, houses the stationary contactstructure IE for the relay. Terminals I? and I8 positioned on the upperand lower surfaces of this mounting portion provide a means forconnecting to the stationary elements CJI of the stationary contactstructure I6 in a manner later to be described. A U-shaped notch I9 andholes 25 in the lower surface I I of base member Il! provides a meansfor attaching said base member to any particular surface desired in anysuitable manner.

The magnetic core structure I5 positioned in the recess I4 formed inbase member I0 by the upstanding portions I2 includes a pair ofidentical U-shaped core members 23, 24 of magnetic material such asnickel iron alloy. The core members 23, Z4 have at their extremitiestransversely extending pole pieces 25, 25 respectively which areintegral with said core members. Similarly each core member 23, 24 hasan extending L-shaped magnet mounting bracket portion "2l, 2B,respectively, located equi-distant between the pole pieces 25, 26 ofeach core member. The free extremities of these magnet mounting bracketportions have tapped holes therein for purposes later to be described.Core member 2li is positioned in the recess I4 of base member I] suchthat its pole pieces 25 rest on the upstanding portions I2 of said basemember and within slots in said upstanding portions I2 not shown in thedrawing. The upper core member 23 is positioned with its pole pieces 25in near abutting relationship to the pole pieces 26 of core member 24and with the main portion of the core member extending in the oppositedirection from that of core member 24. The magnet mounting bracketportion 21 is disposed in the same direction as that of portion 28 ofcore member 24 such that the extremities thereof lie in the same plane.Positioned between the pole pieces 25 and 26 of core members 23, 24respectively, are a pair of U-shaped spacer members 3l of non-magneticmaterial. These spacer members, in addition to their generalconiiguration, are bent at their open extremity such that that portionwill lie parallel with the pole pieces 25, '26 and are bent at theclosed extremity such that that portion will be disposed away from theupper core member 23. The bifurcated portion of each spacer member 3liits around a reduced portion 32 of upper core member 23 and underneaththe pole pieces 25. A pair of air gaps 38 are defined by the positioningof the spacer members 3l between the pole pieces 25, 2 which air gapsare limited in one direction by the pole pieces 25, 26 and in the otherdirection by the bifurcated ends of the spacer members 3i. Brackets 33,34 secure the spacer members SI and the upper core member 23 as well aslower core member 24 lin position within the slots or notches in theopstanding portions I2 and the cavity it therebetween. The brackets aremade of a non-magnetic material and are secured to the upstandingportions l2 of base member lo by screws which mount into tapped holes inthe upstanding portions. Bracket 34 diiTers from bracket 33 in that ithas an upstanding flange portion 35 attached thereto with a tapped holesi therein, the purpose oi which will be later described. Also assistingin the positioning of core members 23, 2s with respect to one another isa permanent magnet lil which is attached to the magnet mounting bracketportions 21, 28 respectively of said members. Magnet it has preferablynotches at either extremity and is secured to the bracket portions El,23 by screws 4l which t into tapped holes in the bracket portions. Coremembers 2s, 'Sie and magnet it form a cavity or opening in the magneticcore structure I5 within which is mounted coil or winding a which iswound on a bobbin es of insulating material. Bobbin is has an apertureil therethrough which is somewhat larger in cross dimension than the airgaps 33 such that an armature which is positioned therethrough will notengage the bobbin.

Armature 5@ is a rod-like member of high permeability magnetic materialwhich is rectangular in cross-section and which cross-section is reducedfrom that of the air gap 35i and aperture 4l of bobbin 56. It is pivotedon a mounting structure 52 located outside ci the magnetic corestructure i5 and secured to base member l0. The pivoted extremity ofarmature 5@ has a portiont bent normal thereto at which point a flexibleplate 5d is attached, as by rivets 5b, the flexible plate or reed 5Flbeing positioned between 'the bent portion of the armature 5i? and anon-magnetic backing plate 55 over which the rivets 56 are bent to makea secure and positive connection between the armature 5d and flexibleplate or reed 5d. Armature dii, flexible plate or reed 5t and backingplate 5E are all made of good electrical conductive material forpurposes to be later noted. The exible member or reed 54 is bifurcatedat its lower extremities which bifurcations 6@ are attached to anadjustable mounting plate 5l and a terminal plate 52 in any suitablemanner such as by rivets 53 shown herein. The bifurcations adjustablemounting plates Si and terminal plate SZ, all of which members are madeof a good electrically conductive material, for purposes to be noted.later. Plate @i is positioned in a slot E55 of base member i@ extendingfrom i the Ylower surface il along one of the opstanding portions i2, ascan be seen in Figure 3. Plate BI includes notches @t therein throughwhich mounting screws di are positioned into tapped holes in the basemember. As determined by the notches its, the adjustable plate Si may bemoved up and down within the slot t5 to position the structure mountedthereon and hence armature 563 within the air gap til of core structureI5. The free or upper end of flexible reed or plate 54 is alsobifurcated as at it best shown in Figure 3. A screw il positioned inthis bifurcation and engages the tapped. aperture :il of mountingbracket 3d such that the position of this bifurcated end of reed 5d maybe varied, hence biasing the armature 5@ in a downward direction. =Asshown in Figure 2, the adjustable mounting plate 6l is so positioned onbase member i0 that armature is located nearest the pole piece 25 ofcore member 23 at the pivoted bil are placed between i 4 extremitythereof. Similarly, adjustable screw l! is positioned against theflexible member 5G at the bifurcated extremity i@ to bias the armaturedownward at its unpivoted extremity into engagement with its stationarycontact structure i6.

Armature dll at its unpivoted extremity carries contact 'l5 whichengages lcontacts "it, 'li of the stationary contact assembly It, as canbest be seen in Figures 2 and e. yStationary contact structure i6 whichis attached to the base member iii at the contact mounting portion i3includes contact frames it, i9 attached to said mounting portion it byterminal screws il', E3, respectively. An opening it is positioned inthe contact mounting portion i3 of base member iii for the purpose ofhousing the contact structure It as well as giving access to thatportion for mounting and assembly of said contact structure. Theterminal il is actually a screw which extends through a portion of thecontact mounting portion it into opening te such that contact frame itmay be positioned thereon and a nut and washer 3i threaded over thescrew to secure said contact to the base member. Similarly, contactframe it is secured to the Contact mounting portion i3 by means ofterminal i8 whose threaded portion extends into opening St where anapertured end of contact frame 'is is positioned thereon and a nut andwasher threaded onto the terminal screw to secure the rame. rlhe contactframes i8 and 'i9 are attached to the contact mounting portion i3 ofbase member lo near the extremityof said upstanding portion and theaperture 30 therein. These frames extend in the longitudinal directionof the upstanding portion i2 oi base member lli and aperture il@ beingdisposed substantially parallel to one another and to either side ofthat portion of armature 5@ which carries the movable Contact l5. Framemembers 1S, it have attached thereon flexible contact carrying reeds B3,34, respectively, which carry the stationary contacts l, 'Ilrespectively. Contact carrying reeds 83, tf1 are disposed on that sideof their respective contact trames which lies away from the armature 5@and are attached thereto in any suitable manner as rivets 85. The reedstlg, 8d are bent along their extremity such that the free end is biasedinto engagement with the contact frame. Positioned at these free ends ofcontact carrying reeds t3, 84 are the stationary contacts is, l?respectively which are attached to the reeds by pin-like rivets. Thepins carrying the contacts extend through holes in the respectivecontact frames it, i9 such that the reed is positioned on one side ofthe contact frame and the contact member which it mounts is positionedon the other side of the contact frame. Stationary contacts i6, 'll arealigned on the contact frames lf3, i9 respectively to be engaged by themovable contact 'i5 carried on armature 5t. The free ends of contactframes 1t, 'iii have an additional aperture or hole 816, El respectivelytherein into which the pin-like tips 9d, si of adjustment screws t2, t3extend. The adjustment screws t2, 93 are threaded through tapped holesin the contact mounting portion it of base member iii and extend intothe opening llt, to engage the free ends of the contact frame members.These screws work against the rigidity or bias of the Jtrame members toposition said members into desired proximity with the contact carryingarmature 5t. The frame members l, 'it do not engage the armature,however, since stationary contacts 16, 11 are positioned between thearmature and frame and upon engagement of the movable contact 15 witheither of these contacts, the latter move against the bias of theirrespective mounting reeds a limited distance provided by the pinlikemounting rivets to absorb armature inertia and provide for Wipe of thecontacts.

The operation of the present relay is conventional for a polarized relayutilizing a direct currentactuating winding or coil. Magnet 4i) of thepresent relay is attached to the core members 23 and 24 in such a mannerthat the upper end of the magnet is of south polarity and the lower endof the magnet is of north polarity and hence pole pieces 25 aremagnetized to a south polarity and pole pieces 2B to a north polarity.Similarly, coil is so wound and positioned in Vthe cavity of corestructure i5 that it magnetiaes armature 50, when energized, with asouth polarity near its pivoted extremity and a north polarity near itscontact carrying or free extremity. As was previously noted the armatureis positioned in the vair gaps 33 of the core structure l 5 in such amanner that it is closer to the upper pole piece 25 at the pivot end inthe air gap of the pivoted extremity and closer to the lower pole piece26 in the air gap at the unpivoted extremity. Similarly flexible reed 54is biased by compression through adjustment screw 'll and a tapped hole3l of flange 36 to bias the armature 5t toward the pole piece 25 at theunpivoted extremity. With 'coil 46 deenergized, armature 5l! is affectedby two conditions to hold it in a predetermined position, that is, withmovable contact l5 engaging stationary contact TI. These conditionsbiasing the armature in the normally deenergized position are the biasof flexible reed 54 and the magnetic pull created by the permanentmagnet 40. The flux in the magnetic core structure due to magnet 4oalone will tend to circulate directly across the air gaps 33. but aportion of this flux due to the proximity of the armature to pole piece25 at the pivoted extremity and pole piece 2B at the unpivoted extremitywill pass through the armature itself tending to draw the armaturetoward the lower pole piece at the unpivoted extremity. As coil 45 isenergized with a direct current of a particular polarity, a ux will bebuilt up in the magnetic I circuit and a definite polarity will beestablished at or near the extremities of the armature. This polaritywill be such that a north pole will be created near the unpivotedextremity and a south pole near the pivoted extremity and the attractionbetween the armature and the upper pole 25 having a south polarity atthe unpivoted extremity will be such to cause the armature to move awayfrom engagement of contacts l5, il into engagement with contacts 15, T6.This type of operation will be a snap action since the magnetic pullcreated by the ux in the armature Will be larger than that created bythe permanent magnet, After the armature 5@ has moved to the Lipperposition, that is with contacts 15, i5 made, the ilux caused by theenergization of coil 45 will tend to circulate through the upper coremember 23 and armature 5G. This circulating flux will tend to hold thearmature in its newly acquired position with sufficient contact pressureto establish a good electrical circuit between the contacts.

Similarly, as energization of coil 45 is decreased, this circulatingflux will decrease to a point where the effect of the biasing springwill overcome the magnetic pull caused by it and the armature will bemoved away from engagement ofl contacts 15, 7.6. At this point, theenergization of the magnetic circuit due to the magnet 40 alone is suchas to move the armature into engagement with contact 15, TI with asimilar snap actionk and suf'- cient contact pressure will be had atthese contacts due to the eiective magnetic pole and bias of the reed54.

The electrical circuits for this relay are conventional inasmuch as allparts of the contact structure are made of good electrically conductivematerial. Circuits are established from stationary contacts 16, 'H toterminals I'i and rI8 respectively through their respective reeds' andcontact frames. Similarly contacts 'I5 are connected to the terminalplate 52 through a circuit formed by the armature itself, the flexiblereed 54, andthe terminal point 62.

While I have illustrated the preferred-embodiment of my invention, it isobvious that many other modifications or adaptations of this improvedrelay will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it should beclearly understood that the invention is to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A polarized relay comprising, in combination: aninsulated basemember. having a recess therein; a magnetic core structure including apair of U-shaped core members of magnetic material having pole. piecesat either extremity thereof and transversely extending Vmagnet mountingbracket portions integral therewith. located equi-distant between said-pole pieces; a pair of U-shaped spacci' members of nonxnagneticmaterial; one of said core members being positioned in said recess ofsaid base member, the other said core members being positioned with itspole pieces in near abutting relationship to the .pole pieces of saidfirst named core member and with said magnet mounting bracket portionextending in the same direction as that of the first named core member;said spacer members beingr positioned between the pole pieces in saidnear abutting relation to denne an air gap at either extremity of saidcore structure; bracket means securing said core members and said spacermembers in a nxed relation to said base member at either extremity ofsaid core structure; a bar type permanent magnet mounted between saidmagnet mounting bracket portions and removably secured thereto; arod-like armature of magneticv material positioned to extend throughsaid air gaps and between extremities of 'said U-shaped spacermembers,said armature being mounted on'a pivot structure located outside saidcore structure; said pivot structure including a iiexible reed to whichsaid armature is attached and an adjustable mounting plate mounted onsaid base member carrying said reed; said armature being positionedthrough said adjustable plate closer to one of the pole pieces of thepair denning the air gap nearest the pivoted extremity thereof tomagnetically bias said armature into a predetermined position; meansincluding a ilange attached to one of said bracket means adapted toadjust said iiexible reed and further bias said armature into saidpredetermined position; and a Winding encircling said armature anddisposed within said core structure, said winding when energizedmagnetizing said armature and causing it to be displaced from itspredetermined position.

2. In a rela-y, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member ofinsulating material, said core structure including a pair of coremembers with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a permanentmagnet bridging said core members, said core members being positionedwith said pole pieces in near abutting relationship, nonmagneticbifurcated spacer members positioned between said pole pieces to deiinean air gap therebetween, an armature positioned in said air gap andpivoted on a mounting structure external of said core structure formovement between the bifurcated portions of said spacer members, `'saidarmature mounting structure including a iiexible reed to which saidarmature is secured and an adjustably mounted plate to which said reedis secured, said reed having an extending portion cooperating with anadjustable screw means secured to said base member for biasing saidarmature into a predetermined position, and coil means encircling saidarmature and positioned within said core structure. l i

3. A polarized relay comprising a magnetic core structure mounted in arecessed base member, said core structure including a pair of coremembers with pole pieces in near abutting relaticnship to one another todefine a pair of air gaps therebetween, nonmagnetic bifurcated spacermembers positioned between said pole pieces to accurately denne said airgaps, nonmagnetic bracket means securing said core structure includingsaid core members and said spacer members to said base member, one ofsaid bracket members having an extending flange therefrom with anadjusting means mounted therein, a permanent magnet bridging said coremembers to establish a polarity in said pole pieces, a pivotally mountedarmature positioned in said air gaps for movement between the bifurcatedportions of said spacer members, said `armature including an extendingreed-like` biasing member which cooperates with said adjusting means ofsaid flange on said one of said bracket members, and a coil encirclingsaid armature and positioned in the recess of said base member,

4. In a relay, a magnetic core structure having a pair vof iixed airgaps therein including an energizing means mounted on a base, and anarmature cooperating with said core structure positioned in said airgaps and pivotally mounted f lon an armature mounting structure attachedto said base, said armaturemounting structure including a flexible reedto which said armature is secured and a plate. mounted on said base towhich said reed is secured, said .reed having an extending portion withan adjustable screw means therein which cooperates with said base tobias said armature into a predetermined position, said plate beingadjustable to vary the position of said armature within said air gaps ofsaid magnetic core structure.

5, A- polarized relay comprising in combination: an insulating basemember having a recess therein; a magnetic core structure including apair of U-shaped core members of magnetic material having pole pieces ateither extremity thereof and a transversely extending magnet mountingbracket portion integral therewith located equidistant between said polepieces, a

said core structure and a coil receiving cavity therebetween; permanentmagnet means connected between said magnet mounting bracket portions toenergize said pole pieces with denite magnetic polarities, a bar typearmature of magnetic material disposed within said air gaps between theextremities of said spacer members and pivotally mounted on anadjustable reed type mounting structure located on said base memberexternal of said core structure to be nearer one than the other of saidpole pieces of said pair forming the air gap nearest the pivotalmounting; said magnet means setting up magnetic polarities in said polepieces to bias said armature toward said lower pole piece at theunpivoted extremity of said armature; and a coil surrounding saidarmature and positioned within said cavity in said core structure tomagnetize said armature and overcome the bias created by said permanentmagnet means.

6. In a relay, a base of insulating -material having a recess therein, amagnetic core structure positioned in said recess, said core structureincluding a pairof U-,shaped core members having pole pieces at theextremities thereof and a magnetic energizing member bridging said coremember to set up xed magnetic polarities in said pole pieces, said coremembers being positioned with said pole pieces in near abuttingrelationship and with non-magnetic bifurcated spacer memberstherebetween to define with said pole pieces a pair of air gaps, a bartype armature positioned within said pair of air gaps and pivotallymounted for movement between said abutting pole pieces from a pointoutside of said core structure, adjustable biasing means attachedbetween said armature and said base member, iiexible means mounting saidarmature for pivotal movement, said mounting means being attached tosaid base member and movably adjustable relative thereto to vary theposition of said bar type armature within vsaid *air .gaps and betweensaid pole pieces, and a coil encircling said armature and positionedwithin said core structure.

`7. In a relay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member ofinsulating material,

said core structure including a pair of core members with pole pieces atthe extremities thereof and a permanent magnet bridging said coremembers,v said core.l members being lpositioned with said pole` piecesin near abutting relationship, non-magnetic bifureated spacer memberspositioned between said pole pieces to define an air gap therebetween,an armature positioned' in said air gap and pivoted on 4a mountingstructure external of saidcore structure for movement between thebifurcated portions of said spacer members, said armature mountingstructure including a flexible reed to which said yarmature is securedand an adjustable mounting plate to which said reed is secured, saidplate being mounted on said base member, adjustable biasing meansattached between said base member and said armature for biasing saidarmature into a predetermined position, and coil means encircling saidarmature and positioned within said core structure. 4

il. In a lrelay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base memberof insulating material. said core structure including a pair of coremembers with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a permanentmagnet bridging said core members, said core members being positioned onsaid base member with said pole pieces in near abutting relationship todene a pair of airgaps therebetween, a bar type armature of magneticmateria-1 positioned in said air gaps, adjustable means attached to saidbase member and pivoting said armature from a point external of saidcore structure for movement between said pole pieces forming said airgaps, flexible reed means included in said adjustable pivoting means forsaid armature having an extending portion, an adjustable screw meanssecured to said base and engaging said extending portion of said reedfor biasing said armature into a predetermined position, and coil meansencircling said armature and positioned within said core structure.

9. In a relay, a magnetic core structure positioned on a base member ofinsulating material, said core structure including a pair of coremembers with pole pieces at the extremities thereof and a magneticenergizing,r member bridging said core members, said core members beingpositioned with their pole pieces in near abutting relationship,non-magnetic spacer members positioned between said pole pieces todefine an air gap therebetween, an armature positioned in said air gap`and pivoted on a mounting structure exteradjustable mounting plate towhich said reed is secured, said reed having an extending portionBENJAMIN W. BRION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I le ofthis patent:

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